Jiayou Cycling Trail

The Jiayou Cycling Trail Digital Virtual Guided Tour Platform. Cycling is all the rage! Come and explore the Jiayou Cycling Trail! The Jiayou Cycling Trail was constructed by utilizing the idle old railway line of CPC Corporation. It starts next to the CPC plant on Section 4, Shixian Road, Chiayi City, and passes through four villages (Meiyuan, Guanglu, Shizi, and Hongwacu), as well as three villages in Shuishang Township, Chiayi (Sanhe, Xialiao, and Huigui). The trail extends to the Tropic of Cancer Station Astronomical Square, spanning a total length of 3500 meters. It is planned as a dedicated cycling path and a scenic greenway trail to enhance Chiayi City's recreational and tourism resources. The newly planned green belt features 2-meter-wide bicycle lanes on both sides of the original railway. Along the route, rest pavilions, wetland ecological areas, and lotus ponds are established, adapting to the local topography and hydrology. Medium and small trees, tall and short shrubs are planted along the path, and entrance flower archways are erected at important road intersections, fully meeting multi-functional needs for ecology, aesthetics, tourism, and recreation. The Jiayou Cycling Trail was formerly part of the 'Chiayi Chemical Factory.' Its unique historical background makes it a rare industrial heritage site in Taiwan and a valuable cultural landscape resource. Through meticulous planning, the Chiayi City Government has breathed new life into the old railway, transforming it into a dedicated cycling path and a walking trail for the public to enjoy. It was named 'Jiayou Cycling Trail' through public voting. The entire route traverses urban areas, countryside, and pastoral scenery. Its elegant and pleasant landscape, friendly environment, and strong tourist appeal make it an excellent destination for family sightseeing, recreation, and enjoyment. **Chiayi Chemical Factory: A Brief History** The Chiayi Chemical Factory was founded in 1938 (Showa 13, during the Japanese colonial period) by Taiwan Takushoku Co., Ltd. It used sweet potato chips as raw material to produce butanol, propanol, and ethanol, becoming the world's largest professional fermented butanol factory at that time. In 1942 (Showa 17), a dedicated railway line was built to connect it to the main line of the Western Trunk Line. Butanol was used to produce isooctane for aviation gasoline. During World War II, the Chiayi Chemical Factory became a crucial secret fuel base for Japan. Its produced solvents were transported via the dedicated railway to the main railway line, then to Kaohsiung Port, and finally shipped to Japan. Attraction established: April 12, 2008